Parcels-receptacle.



e. H. c. WILLIAMS & 8. H. LIBBEY.

PARCELS RECEPTACLE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9.1915.

1fi%@fi%% Patented Dec; 4, 1917;

H361. gay

GEORGE H. C. WILLIAMS, 0]?

NEW JERSEY, ASSZL'GN(IES J EJRSEY, A CORPORATION H. LIBBEY, 0F BELLEVILLE,

T0 0TIS-ELEVATOR COMPANY, OF JERSEY CIT-Y, NEW 0]? NEW PABCELS-REOEPTAGLE 1,24%,5E4il...

Application filed November 9; 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE H. VVIn- LIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Metuchen, in the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, and RICHARD H. LIBBEY, residing in Belleville, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Parcels-Receptacles, of which the following is a specification.

'Our invention relates to receptacles for mail matter, such as parcel post packages, letters, etc., the invention residing more particularly in the provision of an improved hopper and inlet hopper door, which will efiectually secure the mail matter against molestation or theft, after once being deposited in the receptacle, and to further provide a device of this character which will accommodate for depositing in the receptacle, packages, etc., of greater proportions than can be accommodated by devices of a similar character, which are now in every day use.

The results above set forth are attained in a most simple and practical manner as illustrated by the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figures 1, 2 and 3, each illustrate a sectional side elevation of apackage receptacle and inlet hopper door according to the present invention, the views illustrating different actuated positions of the inlet hopper door; and Fig. 4 illustrates a front view of the receptacle, etc.

In detail, the parts illustrated in the drawings comprise the receptacle A having an interior chamber B into which the mail matter is fed through an inlet opening C.

hopper or passage D connects the inlet opening C with the interior chamber B, this passage being controlled by means of the inlet shelf or door E.

N ow it is the aim of the present invention to make the interior chamber B absolutely theft-proof and to provide a hopper 0r passage D which will readily accommodate packages of greater proportions than can be accommodated by the parcel post receptacles such as are now in every day use. These results We obtain in a novel and simple manner by a particular construction of the parts forming the hopper or passage D,

and the inlet shelf or door E which controls,

the latter passage, the particular construc- Speci'fication-of Letters Patent.

rateiitea Dec. a, mi a. Serial No. 60,472;

parts being as follows: The inlet shelf or door E consists of divergent blades E, E, which form the base line of the shelf, the latter being pivotally supported at 1. The hopper or passage D is formed at its sides by baffle plates 2, the cylindrical members F and G extending rearwardly from the opening C, forming walls therefor. The divergent blades E, E forming the base line of the inlet door, are of diiierent lengths, the base line E being somewhat longer than the blade E. The walls formed by the members F and G are of different radii, the latter being struck from the common center 1, to conform with the ariation in length of the divergent blades E E, there being only a slight working clearance between the walls F and G and blades E, E.

New with the parts as shown in Fig. 1, the inlet opening C is closed by the blade E, and the orifice D at the lower extremity of the passage D is opened by the blade E, the latter now abutting against a stop memtion of these her 3. With the inlet door actuated to the position indicated in Fig. 2, the passage D is still closed to the exterior by the blade E, but the orifice D is now closed by the blade E". It is most desirable to close the orifice D at this time, since a slight movement now of the inlet door causes the blade E to open the inlet opening C, to the exterior, but the orifice D being closed, effectually prevents access by way to the interior chamber B of the receptacle. Thus for any movement of the inlet door from the position indicated in Fig. '2, so on to a full open position to receive a package, etc, the interior chamber B will at all times be closed to the exterior, by means of the blade E in conjunction with the elements forming the hopper D. The position of the'inlet door for intermediate points of operation is indicated in Fig. 3 by the dotted lines, the full lines representing the inlet door in full open position to receive a package for deposit into the interior chamber B of the receptacle A.

With the inlet door in full open position as indicated in Fig. 3, the blade E abuts against a straight line section H, connecting the arc-shaped members, the said section serving as a stop for limiting the movement of the inlet door.

of the inlet opening C,

It will be evident that the present construction absolutely secures the contents of the interior chamber B against theft through any of the well'known agencies, as for example by a hook or pin attached to a cord or wire, etc., such security being effected by the longer blade E of the inlet door cutting off the interior chamber B at the orifice D from the exterior, at all times when the blade E assumes such a position as to open the inlet 0.

The provision of an inlet hopper door having divergent base lines of different lengths, in conjunction with the buffer walls F and G involving different radii to conform to the different lengths of the blades forming the hopper door, results in a substantial increase in the area of the hopper or passage D, enabling the present device to readily accommodate packages of some greater proportions than can be accommodated by the present day parcel post receptacles, wherein the divergent blades forming the base line for the inlet door are of equal lengths, and the walls of the hopper involve but a single radius.

This feature of our invention is of considerable importance, since it overcomes a most common objection held against the present day'parcel post receptacles, the objection arising from the fact, that the inlet hopper door and hopper itself offer accommodation for packages, etc., of only quite small. proportions, this objectionable feature of course materially lessening the utility of the devices.

It is to be understood that our improved inlet hopper door, etc, is not limited in its use to the ordinary type of parcel post or letter box, but may have other applications as for example, in conjunction with a well known form of spiral or gravity conveyer adapted to convey packages, letters, or any other mail matter, between different floors of a building.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a receptacle for mail matter, the combination with a hopper comprising walls struck on different radii but on the same center, and an inlet door, said inlet door being constructed of two blades of different Gopiesof this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the lengths and coacting with the said walls of said hopper to prevent removal of mail from the hopper.

2. In a receptacle for mail matter, the combination with a hopper constructed with a curved wall having portions of different radii, and means controlling a passage in the hopper comprising a shelf composed of blades of different lengths to conform to the construction of the said wall.

3. In a receptacle for mail matter, the combination with a hopper constructed with a wall composed of cylindrical sections each having a different radius, and means controlling a passage in the hopper comprising a pivoted shelf constructed with divergent blades of different lengths to conform to the construction of the said wall sections.

4:. In a receptacle for mail matter, the combination with ahopper adjacent an opening in the mail receptacle, the hopper being constructed with a wall composed of cylindrical sections, each having a different radius, baffle plates forming a side inclosurc for the hopper, and means controlling a passage in the hopper communicating with the opening and an interior chamber of the receptacle, said means comprising a pivoted shelf constructed with divergent blades, of different lengths substantially extending to the wall sections of the hopper.

5. In a receptacle for mail matter, the combination with a hopper having a passageway comprising a wall extending from an opening in the receptacle, the wall being composed of cylindrical sections each having a different radius, the radii being struck from a common point, baffle plates forming side inclosures for the hopper, and an inlet door or shelf controlling the passageway, the said inlet door or shelf being constructed with divergent blades of conform to the different radii of the hopper walls.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE H. C. WILLIAMS. RICHARD H. LIBBEY.

Witnesses: WALTER C. STRANG, JAMES G. 'BETHELL.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

different lengths to 

